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Notice To Individual Consumer Debtor Form. This is a Washington form and can be use in USBC Western Federal.
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B 201 (04/09/06)
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
NOTICE TO INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER DEBTOR UNDER ' 342(b)
OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE
In accordance with ' 342(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, this notice: (1) Describes briefly the services
available from credit counseling services; (2) Describes briefly the purposes, benefits and costs of the
four types of bankruptcy proceedings you may commence; and (3) Informs you about bankruptcy
crimes and notifies you that the Attorney General may examine all information you supply in
connection with a bankruptcy case. You are cautioned that bankruptcy law is complicated and not
easily described. Thus, you may wish to seek the advice of an attorney to learn of your rights and
responsibilities should you decide to file a petition. Court employees cannot give you legal advice.
1. Services Available from Credit Counseling Agencies
With limited exceptions, ' 109(h) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that all individual debtors who file for
bankruptcy relief on or after October 17, 2005, receive a briefing that outlines the available opportunities for credit
counseling and provides assistance in performing a budget analysis. The briefing must be given within 180 days before
the bankruptcy filing. The briefing may be provided individually or in a group (including briefings conducted by telephone
or on the Internet) and must be provided by a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States
trustee or bankruptcy administrator. The clerk of the bankruptcy court has a list that you may consult of the approved budget
and credit counseling agencies.
In addition, after filing a bankruptcy case, an individual debtor generally must complete a financial
management instructional course before he or she can receive a discharge. The clerk also has a list of approved
financial management instructional courses.
2. The Four Chapters of the Bankruptcy Code Available to Individual Consumer Debtors
Chapter 7: Liquidation ($245 filing fee, $39 administrative fee, $15 trustee surcharge: Total fee
$299)
1. Chapter 7 is designed for debtors in financial difficulty who do not have the ability to pay their existing
debts. Debtors whose debts are primarily consumer debts are subject to a Ameans test@ designed to determine
whether the case should be permitted to proceed under chapter 7. If your income is greater than the median
income for your state of residence and family size, in some cases, creditors have the right to file a motion
requesting that the court dismiss your case under ' 707(b) of the Code. It is up to the court to decide whether
the case should be dismissed.
2. Under chapter 7, you may claim certain of your property as exempt under governing law. A trustee
may have the right to take possession of and sell the remaining property that is not exempt and use the sale
proceeds to pay your creditors.
3. The purpose of filing a chapter 7 case is to obtain a discharge of your existing debts. If, however, you
are found to have committed certain kinds of improper conduct described in the Bankruptcy Code, the court may
deny your discharge and, if it does, the purpose for which you filed the bankruptcy petition will be defeated.
4. Even if you receive a general discharge, some particular debts are not discharged under the law.
Therefore, you may still be responsible for most taxes and student loans; debts incurred to pay nondischargeable
taxes; domestic support and property settlement obligations; most fines, penalties, forfeitures, and criminal
restitution obligations; certain debts which are not properly listed in your bankruptcy papers; and debts for death
or personal injury caused by operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft while intoxicated from alcohol or drugs.
Also, if a creditor can prove that a debt arose from fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or theft, or from a willful and
malicious injury, the bankruptcy court may determine that the debt is not discharged.
Chapter 13: Repayment of All or Part of the Debts of an Individual with Regular Income ($235.00
filing fee, $39 administrative fee: Total fee $274.00)
1. Chapter 13 is designed for individuals with regular income who would like to pay all or part of
their debts in instalments over a period of time. You are only eligible for chapter 13 if your debts do not exceed
certain dollar amounts set forth in the Bankruptcy Code.
2. Under chapter 13, you must file with the court a plan to repay your creditors all or part of the money
that you owe them, using your future earnings. The period allowed by the court to repay your debts may be three
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years or five years, depending upon your income and other factors. The court must approve your plan before it
can take effect.
FORM B201
Page 2
3. After completing the payments under your plan, your debts are generally discharged except for
domestic support obligations; most student loans; certain taxes; most criminal fines and restitution obligations;
certain debts which are not properly listed in your bankruptcy papers; certain debts for acts that caused death or
personal injury; and certain long term secured obligations.
Chapter 11: Reorganization ($1000 filing fee, $39 administrative fee: Total fee $1039)
Chapter 11 is designed for the reorganization of a business but is also available to consumer debtors. Its
provisions are quite complicated, and any decision by an individual to file a chapter 11 petition should be
reviewed with an attorney.
Chapter 12: Family Farmer or Fisherman ($200 filing fee, $39 administrative fee: Total fee $239)
Chapter 12 is designed to permit family farmers and fishermen to repay their debts over a period of time
from future earnings and is similar to chapter 13. The eligibility requirements are restrictive, limiting its use to
those whose income arises primarily from a family-owned farm or commercial fishing operation.
3. Bankruptcy Crimes and Availability of Bankruptcy Papers to Law Enforcement Officials
A person who knowingly and fraudulently conceals assets or makes a false oath or statement under
penalty of perjury, either orally or in writing, in connection with a bankruptcy case is subject to a fine,
imprisonment, or both. All information supplied by a debtor in connection with a bankruptcy case is subject to
examination by the Attorney General acting through the Office of the United States Trustee, the Office of the
United States Attorney, and other components and employees of the Department of Justice.
WARNING: Section 521(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that you promptly file detailed information
regarding your creditors, assets, liabilities, income, expenses and general financial condition. Your bankruptcy
case may be dismissed if this information is not filed with the court within the time deadlines set by the
Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, and the local rules of the court.
Certificate of [Non-Attorney] Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
I, the [non-attorney] bankruptcy petition preparer signing the debtor=s petition, hereby certify that I delivered to the
debtor this notice required by ' 342(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.
________________________________________
___________________________________
Printed name and title, if any, of Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
Social Security number (If the bankruptcy
petition
preparer is not an individual, state the Social
Security
number of the officer, principal, responsible person,
or
partner of the bankruptcy petition preparer.)
Address:
________________________________________
(Required
by 11 U.S.C. ' 110.)
X_______________________________________
Signature of Bankruptcy Petition Preparer or officer,
principal, responsible person, or partner whose Social
Security number is provided above.
Certificate of the Debtor
I (We), the debtor(s), affirm that I (we) have received and read this notice.
_________________________________________
Printed Name(s) of Debtor(s)
X___________________________________
Signature of Debtor
Date
Case No. (if known) ____________________
X___________________________________
Signature of Joint Debtor (if any) Date
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